KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
One of the biggest pro-freedom rallies was held in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday, local sources said.
Reports reaching here said that thousands of people a pro-freedom rally held in Bugam area of the district. Forces tried to raid and foil the rally but “didn’t succeed”.
“Thousands, thousands of people attended it,” a participant informed, “and it was historic given the management of the rally.”
Locals from Kulgam district said that there was a “formal word” spread in the district that a pro-freedom rally was scheduled in Bugam area on August 27, 2016 and “thus the preparations started”.
One local whose father participated in the rally said that people from as many as a dozen villages participated in the rally.
He named some villages as Bolsoo, Qaimoh, Nowpora, Bogund, Srundoo, Laroo, Chawalgam, Yaripora, Bachroo, Brazloo, Tarigam, Parigam, Redwani, Khundroo and Gofbal.
The pro-freedom rally was held in the same ground where funeral prayers for slain militant commander Abu Qasim were held in December 2015.
The local informed that added that forces used forced to foil the rally, however, “we showed resistance”.
“Forces lobbed tear gas shells and pellets to foil the rally when volunteers were busy in making preparations,” reports said.
“People came on streets and raised pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. They also hurled stones on the forces,” reports added.
“When people didn’t stop making preparations, forces left the venue and rally continued,” local said.
Meanwhile, local correspondent reports said that around 15000 people attended the rally where several local leaders of religo-political organizations addressed the rally including Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Kulgam chief Mohammad Shaban and chief of Fiqr-o-Aiteqaad, Maulana Sarjan Barkaati.
“Around 15 speakers had addressed the rally when I left it,” a participant said. “The committee which was overlooking the management of the rally had prepared over 20000 packets of food and participants were given cucumbers as well in lunch,” he said, “it was the most disciplined rally.”
Given the mass civil uprising triggered by the killing of popular militant commander Burhan Wani on July 08, 2016, such type of rallies is a daily affair in South Kashmir. At least 71 civilians were killed by forces while over 8500 persons were injured during mass protests.
(With Shah Hilal in Kulgam.)
Kashmir Zindabad, Burhan Wani shaheed Zindabad, Pakistan Zindabad.